Stoker conveyer



Septo 5, 1933.

H. F.l ANDERSON STOKER CONVEYER Filed Aug. 23, 1930 A TTORNE Y Sept. 5,1933. H. P. ANDERSON S'TOKER GONVEYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K INVENTORBY//afdfzdefmfz ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES STOKERCONV EYER Howard P. Anderson,` Erie, Pa., assignor to The StandardStoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationAugust 23, 1930. Serial No. 477,263

11 Claims. (Cl. 198-15) My invention relates to locomotive or otherstokers and is especially concerned with stoking apparatus employingfiexibly connected fuel conveyer conduits through which fuel such ascoal of sizes varying from lump to diminutive particles is conveyed.

I aim to provide an improved flexible conveyer conduit through which allsizes of .fuel may be conveyed without loss by leakage through thefiexible or telescoping connections of the fuel conduit and Icontemplateconstructing lsuch an improved conveyer with a minimum number of ruggedparts assembled quite easily and expeditiously, and arranged to permitlongitudinal movement between that part of the conveyer conduit mountedon tlfe tender and that part mounted on the locomotive.

A.A further advantage of my invention is its system of lubricating theflexible joint connecting the conduit sections, that also serves as a'seal against the fuel to prevent loss of same between the parts of thejoint.

How these= and other advantages of my invention can be obtained willappear from my description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through aportion'of a locomotive and tender with the device Aof the inventionapplied thereto' Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 withthe outline of thelocomotive and tender conventionally shown and with portions of the fuelconduit bro- 35 ken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the lines 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

conduit on the line 5.-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig'. 2. l

The locomotive selected to illustrate oneform of the invention isl shownat 10 having a flrebox a fuel bin 17 with an apertured oor 18 spacedabove the base or frame 19. The locomotive and its tender are coupledtogether at 20 Vby any suitable coupler and draw bar connection thatvwill lpermit articulation between them.

The Stoker chosen to disclose the preferred em- Fig. 5'is a transversesection through the` fuel bodiment of the invention comprises asectional conveyingvsystem formed of a rearward portion A mounted on thetender and a forward portion B extending forwardly from the rearwardportion and at its forward end arranged to deliver the fuel to thelocomotive rebox. In the use of my invention it is preferred althoughnot necessary, that at least one of the conduit sections be rigidlymounted. In the embodiment shown the rearward portion A of the conduitsystem is rigidly disposed on the tender frame and comprises a troughmember` 21 opening upwardly to receive fuel from the bin 1'7 through theapertured floor 18. The forward portion B may be formed in one section,but as shown is' composed of the forward 70 nozzle or riser member 22rigidlyfixed to the firebox backwall 13 as by a bracket 23 in directcommunication with the rebox through the firing opening 14, and atubular conduit 24 which in effect constitutes an intermediate sectiondisposed between the trough 21 and the nozzle 22. It will be noted thesections communicate with one another at their-adjacent ends to form apassage through which the fuel may be transferred from the tender fuelbin and delivered into the locomotive rebox.

The trough 2l is formed with an extension 2S extending beyond the frontof the tender and mounted on the forward end thereof is a ball member26. The ball member 26 is arranged to move longitudinally of the troughextension, but rotary movement is prevented by means of a rib and slotarrangement hereinafter described in detail. The ball member 26 haslongitudinal slots 27 formed in its inner face arranged to receive thelongitudinal ribs 28 formed on the outer surface of 'the extension 25whereby longitudinal movement is permitted and rotary movementprevented. 'I'he extension 25 is provided at its rearward end withthe-flange'38, which forms a removable frontend for the tender troughand is secured thereto by suitable fastening means as by bolts. Thisconstruction affords easy and convenient access to the crushing zone ofthe trough without making it necessary to remove the coal from thetrough. t

' The intermediate conduit section 24 is provided at its rearward endwith the vertically split clamp 29, arranged to receive the ball member26. The split clamp 29 comprises thesections 30 and 31. The section 30is provided in its inner surface with the longitudinal slot 32 and theSection31 with the longitudinal slot 33. The slots 32 and33 are arrangedto receive the pins 34 and 35 respectively, formed on the outer surfaceof the ball 110 4member 26 whereby the intermediate conduit section 24is permitted to operate through angles while the locomotive is roundingcorners, but rotary movement of the intermediate conduit section isprevented. l

The intermediate conduit section 24 is provided at its forward end withthe ball member 36 which `may if desired be made an integral part of theintermediate conduit, but for maintenance purposes, ease of applicationand removal, the ball member 36, is made a separate casting and boltedto the intermediate conduit as at 37.

The nozzle 22v terminates at its lower end in a spherical seat 3 9receiving the ball member 36. From its lower end the nozzle extendsupwardly and forwardly, flaring outwardly at its upper end, andcommunicates with the firing opening 14 through its laterally spreadingand substantially horizontal mouth portion 40. The mouth portion 40 isprovided with the flanges 41, 41a, for attachment to the backhead bysuitable fastening means, as by bolts. This mouth portion is formed withan upstanding wall 42 to which is detachably mounted a distributor plate43, which forms an extended floor portion of the nozzle projectingthrough the firing opening 14. The nozzle-22 is provided with an opening44 through which access may be had to the interior thereof. A cover 45is provided for the opening 44 which may be hinged at its upper end andheld in closed position by a latch 46. Rearwardly of the distributorplate 43 and outside of the rebox is a vertically disposed distributorhead 47 to which pressure fluid such as steam is supplied by adesirednumber of supply pipes 48. The distributor head 4'? is providedwith a plurality of openings 49 emitting a blast of fluid across thedistributor plate.

The fuel conveying means comprises a screw conveyer 50 mounted in thetrough 2l and the extension 25, flexibly connected at its forward endwith the screw conveyer 51 disposed in the intermediate conduit 24 andterminating adjacent the ball member 36. AArched over the screw 50 atthe forward end of the trough is a crushing member 52 for breaking upthe larger lumps of coal to a suitable size for ring.

The universal connection joining the adjacent ends of the rearwardconveying section A and the forward conveying section B is lubricated.in a novel manner which lubricating system also serves as a seal againstthe fuel to prevent loss of same between the parts of the joint.

The two sections 30 and 31 of the split clamp 29 are provided with thegrooves 53, 54 and the grease gun connections 55 and 56 of the wellknown alemite type whereby grease is forced into the grooves 53, 54furnishing lubrication between the split clamp 29 and the ball member 26and further making a positive seal against leal/sage of :une coal. Theinner surface of the ball member 26 is also provided with. grooves 57and grease gun connections 58 of the well known alemite type wherebygrease is forced into the grooves 57 furnishing lubrication between theball member 26 and the extension 25 of the trough and further making apositive seal against leakage of fine coal.

Thus it is apparent I provide a novel flexible joint for use in asectional conveyer conduit permitting angular and longitudinal movementbetween the sections and at the same time, preventing loss of thematerial being conveyed.

I claim:

1. In a sectional conveying system a rigidly mounted conduit and amovable conduit, the

forward end of said rigid conduit comnmicating directly with therearward end of said movable conduit, a ball member slidably mounted onthe forward end of said rigid conduit, a slip joint associated therewithcomprising a rib and slot arrangement permitting longitudinal movementof said ball member but resistingrotary movement thereof, a split clampat the rearward end of said movable conduit arranged to receive saidball member, a slip joint associated therewith comprising a rib and slotarrangement permitting universal movement of said movable conduit butresisting axial rotary movement thereof.

2. In a locomotive stoker, a conveying system including a conduitsection rigidly mounted on the locomotive, a conduit section rigidlymounted on the tender, a unitary intermediate conduit section connectingthe other two sections in flexible relationship, and means adjacent thecom.

forward end withr a ball member arranged,

throughout to slide longitudinally thereon and having means associatedtherewith for preventing rotary movement of said -ball member withrespect to said tender conduit section, an intermediate conduit sectionconnecting the other two conduit sections, said intermediate conduitbeing provided at its rearward end with a split clamp arranged toreceive said ball member whereby relative universal and longitudinalmovement of said conduits is effected.

4. In a Stoker mounted on a locomotive, having a backwall with a firingopening therethrough, and a tender for said locomotive, a fuel conveyingsystem including a conduit section rigidly mounted on the locomotive anddelivering to said firing opening, a conduit section rigidly mounted onthe tender, a ball member slidably mounted on the forward end of saidtender conduit section, a unitary intermediate conduit sectionconnecting the other two conduit sections, a split clampat the rear ofsaid intermediate conduit arranged to receive said ball member, meansassociated with said ball member and said tender conduit section andmeans associated with said split clamp and said ball member permitting.

tender, a fuel conveying system comprising a rearward portion providedwith a cylindrical extension on the tender and a forward portionextending forwardly from the rearward portion and at its forward endarranged to communicate with the locomotive rebox, at least one of saidportions being rigidly mounted, and a joint connecting the communicatingends of said rearward and forward conduit portions including a ballmemvber having a greater internal diameter throughout its length thanthe external diameter of said cylindrical extension and arranged toslide longitudinally on said extension, said joint formed to permitrelative universal and longitue, .r1 moveilse ment between the rearwardand forward conduit portions and means associated with said jointpreventing axial rotary movement between said rearward and forwardconduit portions.

6. n a sectional conveying system a pair of directly communicatingconduits, means for providing relative longitudinal and universalmovement between said conduits comprising a ball member slidably mountedon one conduit and a split clamp on the other conduit arranged toreceive said ball member and the communicating end of the other conduit,grooves in the inner faces of said ball member and said split clampforming passages, a lubricant in said passages forming a seal vand.openings in said ball member and said clamp communicating with saidpassages forming lubricant intake ports.

'7. A ball joint connecting the sections of a sectional conveyingsystem, comprising a ball member having diametrically opposed lugs, asplit clamp receiving said ball member, said split clamp constituting aportion of a conduit and provided with recesses for engaging the lugs ofsaid ball member for resisting relative axial rotary movement of saidclamp about said ball member, grooves in the opposite inner faces ofsaid clamp terminating adjacent said recesses forming passages betweensaid ball member and said clamp, a lubricant in said passages forming aseal between said clamp and said ball member, and openings in said clampcommunicating with said passages forming intake ports for a lubricant.

8. In a stoker mounted on a locomotive'and tender, a trough Von thetender provided at its forward end with a cylindrically shaped extensionmounted rigid with the tender, a movably mounted conduit sectionextending forwardly from and communicating directly with said extension,a ball member vertically supported in its normal position solely by said.extension and arranged to slide thereon longitudinally of the tender,said conduit section having an element of a ball and socket joint at itsrear end arranged to receive said ball member.

9. In a Stoker mounted on a locomotive and tender, a trough on thetender provided at its forward end with'a cylindrically shapcfdextension mounted rigid with the tender, a ball member verticallysupported in its normal position solely by said extension and arrangedthroughout to slide thereon longitudinally of the tender, and a movablymounted conduit section extending forward from said extension having anelement of a ball and socket joint at its rear end arranged to receivesaid ball member, said extension and said conduit being in directcommunication.

10. In a Stoker mounted on a locomotive and tender, a trough on thetender provided at its forward end with a straight cylindrically shapedextension mounted rigid with the tender, a.. ball member verticallysupported in its normal posiy tion solely by said extension and slidablymounted thereon to move longitudinally with respect to the tender, saidball member having a constant internal diameter throughout its lengthgreater than the external diameter of said extension and a movablymounted conduit section extending forward from said extension having asplit clamp at its rearfend arranged to receive said ball member and theforward end of said extension.

11. A ball joint connecting the sections of a sectional conveyingsystem, comprising a ball member, a split clamp receiving said ballmember and constituting a portion of a conduit, said ball member andsaid split clamp each being provided with one element of a pin andgroove arrangement permitting angular displacement of said split clampand said ball member but resisting axial rotary movement of said splitclamp, about said ball member, grooves in the opposite inner faces ofsaid clamp terminating adjacent said pin and groove arrangement formingpassages between said clamp and said ball member, a lubricant in saidpassages forming a seal between said clamp and said ball member, andopenings'in said clamp communicating with said passages forming intakeports for a lubricant.

HOWARD?. ANDERSON.

